Conveyer.



S. D. WRIGHT.

QON'VBYBR. ArrLmATmN Hun 0014', 1907. 995,648, 1 Patented June 20, 1911.

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comuna.

. APPLIQATION FILED 00T. 4, 1907.

Patented June 20, 1911.

@Mw/Z@ S. D. WRIGHT.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION I'IJHD 00T- 4, 1907.

Patented June20, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WEZ-F551? @Mamba sA-MsoN D. WRIGHT', or CLEVELAND, omo.

" Application filedv October 4, i997. Seria1.No.-39.5,8 1,

Be it knownthat I, SAMSQN D.v WRIGHT,

a citizenl of the United States, residing at- Cleveland, in' the countyof Cuyahoga and State of'Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvementin Conveyers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tov the Aaccompanying drawings'. l

This invention relates to conveyers and particularly tocontinuously moving endless conveyers, which may be installed in foundries for conveying molds..

Heretofore attempts have been made to equip foundries withv continuously moving endless conveyors .for the purpose yof conlveying molds from the molding floor vor, .molding machines past the pouring floor so that casting can b e accomplished expeditiously and without loss of time. far as I am aware, however, prior to my invention these attempts have notjbeeusuccessful for .many reasons, .p rlncp'ally because the con-A veyers would not run smoothly and uniformly, causing molds to be broken and destroyed, and for the reason thatno satisfactory propelling power-could be obtained which would drive the cars or conveyors in a satisfactory manner. 1 One of the vobjects of my invention is to provide an endless conveyer consisting ofa large number of'cars which may bev moved at the desired speed without any jarring,4

jerking or vibration so that the molds can be carried without danger of being injured.

A further object is to provide means ,for propelling the cars so that they will move smoothly and continuousl at uniform speed so that they will notbuc e, and further so that they will beV under perfect control of the operator at all times. l I/Vith these ends in View I provide an endless conveyer consisting-of a'large number of cars which are driven electrically, pref# erably only part of the cars beingequipped with electric motors, the latter being inter-V spersed in the series and all being controlled' by a single means,preferably'aconveniently located controller, by means of which the conveyer can be started or stopped quickly, or its ,speed increased' 'or-decreased. The

motors-are all preferably supplied with cur# rent from a single circuit andare so arvo r gravel on the tracks. I

'construction-of the .ma `being taken. substa -lly alongvv the,` line and all exert thesame driving powerso that. said. conveyer is propelled equally Afrom ratenteaauzne ao, man

that they operate at the same a number of The motors are preferably geared down to a low speed, and to avoid jerking and jarring on. account of back lash of. the gears. and also to avoid a multiplicity of gears, 'the motor shaft and car axles are preferably connected by worm and' worm wheel gearing. The. gearing may be unclutched at anytime byv suitably provided means so that incase it is desired to move the cars by hand or by anyV votherfmeans vthan by the motors.. themselves, said motors and-.gearinwill not act asbrakes. The cars are Aprefera ly 'coupled together by ri id adjustable couplers, so that all loose p ay between the cars isV eliminated, thus .further enhancing smooth 'and uniform running.

lThe cars and tracks are also specially constructedwith the view of avoiding jarring, Y

particularly' on the curves, or due to sand The invention may be further briefly sum'- of vconstruction and combinations and arrangement. of parts, which will be described claims.Y

Inlcarrying out my invention. any preferred form, construction and arrangement of parts may be employed, but in the drawings I have shown one embodiment whlch meets the necessary requirements very effectively andin 4said drawings Figure l repre# 'sents somewhat conventionally a plan view of a foundry floor including the track and endless conveyer; Fig. 2 is aview showing diagranunatically the electric circuits and the .arrangement'of motors on the cars, the

mari'zed as consisting in certa-in novel details in the specification and set forth in .the

latter being shown, by dotted lines, it being understood that no attempt is'made to show the exact number of cars" which-Would be. .employed in practice; Fig. 3-is atop plan. view vparts` being vbroken away, ofhone of the 4 is afside eleva? 10G motor @quipped Cars.; Ei.

tion ofthe same, parts ing broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional planI wof partof the 6 6 of Figl. 6; Figli. a partial sectional elevation, parts being-broken away showing -the motontruck'and part offthecar con-'- truck, the Section i' end view of one of the motor equipped cars showing a pouringladle and the method of supporting the same; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the main motor truck casting; Fig. 9 is end elevation of the same.

Referring now to the ures of the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, 10 represents conventionally a foundry floor, 1021 the cupola furnaces or pouring floor, and 1()b the molding floor, and at 11 is shown an endless track, in this case within the foundry and passing along the molding floor and the pourin oor. The rails of the track are prefera ly formed of I-rails and in this case are covered with rubber 11, cemented or otherwise secured thereto, for` the purpose of reducing jolting or jarring of the cars or conveyers. On the track is an endless conveyer consisting of a large number of cars 12, which are constructed with the view of securing smooth and even running and to permit the molds to be handled and the metal to be poured in the most expeditious manner. The cars are in this case electrically .driven preferably only part of the cars being equipped with motors 13, said cars being interspersed in the series as is shown most clearly in the diagrammatic representation of Fig. 2. The motors are preferably supplied with current from a single circuit, in this case being fed directly from trolley wires or cables 13a intermediate the rails and co-extensive with the track. The motors are themselves connectefL to the trolley wires or cables by a pair of depending trolleys 14, which will be explained in detail later. The trolleys may be supplied Y from an isolated source of current such as a: separately driven generator or from storage batteries or from outside distributing mains. As is seen the motors are all connected in parallel and in this case they are controlled by a single controller 15, which may be located at any convenient position. If desired all the motors may be controlled from a number of points instead of one. The purpose of this arrangement is to obtain equal speed and equal driving power from all the motors and instant and simultaneous control of all the motors, so that the conveyers will be driven equally from a number of points, all the motors starting to operate or ceasing operation at the sa'me time. In practice these motors preferably will be interconnected with equalizing conductors, so that absolute synchronism will be assured. As many of the interspersed motors may be employed as will be necessary to secure satisfactory operation.

The construction of all the cars ispreferably the same except that the motor cars have a special motor truck as vWill appear. Each of the cars is provided with a fiat top or platform 17 foimed preferablyy of a continuous sheet or plate of rolled steel. The ends of the top or platform are curved or rounded on an arc of a circle, the radius of which is carefully selectedvwith reference to the radius of curvature of the track, so.

thatwlien the cars are taking the curves the ends of the cars will roll on each other without friction or joltingl "Depending from the top or platform are flanges 18 formed preferably of angle iron, extending along` the sides and ends thereof, the flanges .at the ends being curved., Each car is provided at one end with an a ron 18% which extends below the top orp atform of the adjacent car for the purpose of catching sand or the like which may drop from the platform and preventing it dropping on the track. This apron is preferably attached to the curved` end flan e and is turned upward along the outer e ge. Each of the cars is also provided along each side thereof with running boards 19 for a purposel which will be explained. These running boards may be secured to the flanges 18 by supporting straps or bars 20, and braces 21. Each is also provided with two` 4double trucks located near the ends thereof,

the trucks and car body being swivcledsi-n without difiiculty. The construction of both the trucks of the cars not equippedwith motors is the same, but the two trucks'of the motor equipped cars are`J aswas stated above, different. The motor truck consists principally of two main castings, a' lower casting 22, to which the axle bearings 23 are securedland which supports the electric motor and other parts to be explained, and an upper dome-shaped casting 24, which rests upon the lower'casting 22 and is provided at its top with a carefully machined circular bearing head 26. Secured to the under side of the top or latform are transverse angle bars 27, to w ich are secured by bolts 28, a bearing plate 29 having a circular recessed portion which receives with a close but working fit the circular top of the dome-shaped casting 24. The truck is swiveled to this plate 29 by a king-bolt or pin 30 located onv the longitudinal axis of 'thc car. Located intermediate the angle bars and the flange of the plate 29 are rubber cushions 31,` in this case in the form of washers surrounding the bolts 28. The bearings 23 for the a'xles, onone side of the truck are secured by bolts 32 to the under sides of flanges 33, and on the opposite side of the truck to theunder side of an elongated extension 34, rubber cushions 23a being interposed between the bearings and thc casting 22, said cushions likewise serving to eliminate jarring and vibration. The casta ing 22 is also providedl intermediate the axles with four supporting feet 35 for the flanges of the motor, the motor being se- 750 r. p. m. to 3 r. p. m.

fedto .the casting bybolts v52 andhaving outer' free ends located over the car axles.

l54 which' engage grooves in the clutches 49.

Theclutch members 49 are held-in engagev ment withthe clutch teeth' on the worm wheels by means o'sprinv cured thereto by bolts v36. The dome shaped casting 24 is provided with four su porting feet whichv rest uponv opposite -si es ofthe main casting 22 and are'secured 1 5 thereto by bolts 37.

' 'The shaft 39 of the motor is connected to Vthe axles in this caseby worm and worm wheel gearing, so' as to avoid danger'of jar ring due to back lash ofthe gears and to are geared down to a very low speed.. In` this instance the motor shaft 'is provided with a worm 40 located within a casing 41,

. whichl is supported onj'top of the main casts A ingA 22, said worm meshing with a worinwheel 42, the lower part ofwhich is located within an oil filled depression 42'? of thecasting andwhich is secured to a .transverse g ,'idlervshaft 43, which extends' substantially 20 the width of the truck and is supported .in bearings 44, secured by bolts 45 to the upper face of the casting 22. ,The shaft 43 is pro-f vided at theend with worms/46 located respectively over the two axles, .the wormsbeing inclosed or covered by plates 47'. Each motor drives both axles simultaneously, the lower part of the worm wheels being inclosed withinl oil casing's 48a secured to the casting 22. Thus it will be seenby-meansl 'o f thegearing just described the cars will f be driven by comparatively high speed motors at a -very low speed, in this particular instance the motors being geared down from In order that the cars may be moved by hand or any other means than by the mo.-

tors, I have provided "means for unclutching nect the worm wheels 48 to the axles by means of clutches 49, which are splined to the axles, the worm wheels 48 being free to" turn on the axles when the clutches are shifted inwardly away from the wormwheels. lThe clutches on the truck are operated vsimultaneously by 'means of .an o erating rod 50, which is located below t e motor' shaft and is connectedat its inner end to two oppositely extending levers 51 pivot- The outer ends of the levers are connected to ends of plungers 53 supported by the casting` and having at theirl otherV endsforks 55. To disenshifting both levers 51 and movinglongituf dnally both rods 53 andthe corresponding clutches.

avoid a multiplicity of gears since the motors of theworrns meshes with a worm wheel 48; located on one ofthe car axles, so thatthe the motors when desired. I'vtherefore con-l gage the'parts the red 50 1s pulled outward gTheV 'trolleys 14 previously lreferred to are.' pivot'ed by bolts between ears .or lugs 5601i)- the casting 22. :The trolleys may be -insulated at this point from the metal frame work in any suitable manner. These trolleys are held yieldingly on the trolley wires by springs 57 '1 The rear truck of the motor equppedcars and the trucks of the cars not equipped with motors consist preferably of beams 58, to the lower sides of which are secured the bearings 23 of the axles, rubber cushions 23a being interposed between the bearings and their .supports as in the preceding case. These beams are preferably joinedintermediate the tfwo axles by channel beams 59 shown in Fig. 4 by dotted lines. Secured to the top of the beams 58 is a plate 60, upon the 'upper face of which bears a plate 61 secured tothe supporting frame 62. This supporting frame 62is formed of plates and angle iron secured to thev flanges 18. of the platform and to the bearing plate 61, the lower part of the sup'- porting frame being separated from` the' late 61 by rubbercushions 63. The truck 1s swiveled as in thefirst instance by a klngbolt or pin 64.'

lThe cars lare coupled together by draw.

bars 65, which are adjustable sothatA all loose play lbetween the cars .is eliminated, 'thus avoiding bumping and jerking of the cars particularly at vstarting and on the curves. In this particular vinstance each of the couplers consists of two bars connected atv together by a turnbuckle 66. The draw bars are yconnected to the inotor trucks by pins or bolts 67- between ears or lugs 68 -on the .castings 24. At the opposite end of each4 motor equipped car andl at each-end of the cars which are not equipped with motors, the draw bar is preferablypivoted to a cross bar or plate 69 extending between the two vertical sides of the supporting frame 62.

veyer at any time until all the casting has been completed. -The flasks containing the sand molds are YVplaced on the cars or conveyers and` carried slowly past the cupola I prefer to construct the car Wheels with their flanges on the outsid'eof the rails 1n.- stead of the'inside.. The purpose of this conesto the anges of the I-beam rails so furnaces. The molten metal is run into ,ladles 69 whichfare supported on-` trolley wheels 70 hearing upon an I-beam trolley 71, which extends from thecu olas over the cars. As the cars carryingt e molds are movedunder the ladle the latter is grasped rby workmen standingon4 the running boards 'of the cars and tilted so the metal is poured into the molds while the latter are being carried along by the cars, the ladle being shifted with the cars by the workmen standing on the running boards. When-one ladle is empty another ladle can be shifted onto the trolley without interrupting operations.

It is seen with the conveyer just described that the casting can be accomplished with less floor space and with the expenditure of less time and labor than with the methods usually employed. It will also be seen that the conveyer can be driven at any desired speed uniformly and evenly both on the straight and curved portions of the track; that jolting and jerking is reduced to a minimum, not only on account of the propelling power employed but on account of the construction 'of the cars, the rubber cushion'on the track and the rigid adjustable coupling means between the cars; and that the conveyer is under perfect control of the operator so that its speed can be changed to suit the conditions or it can be stoppedy instantly in case of accident.

I do not desire to be confined to the exact details of construction or exact arrangement of parts,`as many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,.and I aim in my claims to cover all such changes or modifications.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

l. In a conveying apparatus, an endless track, an endless series of cars or conveyers, and means for driving said conveyer comprising motors interspersed in the series.

2. In a conveying'apparatus, an endless track, an endless series of cars or conveyers, electric motors carried by several of said cars, the latter being interspersed in the series, and means vfor supplying currentto said motors.

3. In a conveying apparatus, an endless track', an endless series of cars or conveyers, low geared electric motors carried by several of .said cars, the latter being interspersed in the series and means for supply- .from a single point.

6. In a conveying apparatus, an endless track, an endless series of cars or conveyers, several of the latter b eingA equi ped with electric motors, means for supp ying curyprising motorscarried by part of rent to said motors, and a fixed or stationary controller' for governlng said motors.

7..In a conveying apparatus, an endless track, an endless series of carsor conveyers,I several of the latterbeing equipped with electric motors and trolleys, a pair of trolley wires or cables co-eXtensive with the track, means for supplying current to said trolley wires, and means for controlling all said motors, from a point which is fixed or stationary with respect to the cars or conveyers.

8. In a conveying apparatus, an endless track, an endless series'of car or conveyer units each comprising a car body and trucks supporting the same, means for coupling said cars together so 'that all loose play be.- tween the latter is eliminated, and means for driving said car or conveyer units comthe units and interspersed in the series.

9. In a conveying apparatus, an endless track, an endless series of cars or conveyers, rigid adjustable coupling means pivotally connected 4to adjacent cars or conveyers, so that all loose play between cars may be eliminated, and means for driving said cars or conveyers comprising electric motors carried by part of the carsor conveyers and interi spersed in the series.v

10. In a conveying apparatus, an endless track, an endless series of cars or conveyers,

means for coupling said cars or conveyers,

so that all loose play between the latter is eliminated, 'and means carried by part of said cars for propellin said cars equally ata plurality of distri uted vpoints in the conveyer. i

A11. In a conveying apparatus', an endless track, an endless series of cars or conveyers, rigid adjustable coupling means pivotally connected to adjacent cars or conveyers, so that all loose play between cars may be eliminated, and electric motors for propelling said cars or conveyers, said motors being carried by part of the cars or conveyers and being interspersed in the series.

12. In a conveying ap aratus, an endless track, an endless serie.. ci) cars or conveyers, means for couplin said cars or conveyers together-so that allr loose play between the latter is eliminated, part of'said cars or'conveyers beingequipped with low geared electric motors which are interspersed in the series, and means for supplying current to said motors.

13. In a mold conveying apparatus for a i foundry, an endlesstrack, and endless series of cars or conveyers coupled together, electric driving motors interspersed in the series, said cars having running boards along the .sides thereof.

14. In a mold conveying apparatus for a foundry, an endless track, an endless series of electrically.l propelled cars or conveyers v coupled together, driving motors carried by axle bearings and a driving motor, and an part of said cars, said motors being interspersed in the series, each of -said'cars or conveyers having running .boards along both sides thereof.

15.A In a conveying ap the idler sha t, and the idler shaft to the car axle.

17. In a conveying apparatus, an endless' track, an endless series of cars, means for propelling the cars, each car having an apron whichA projects underneath the end of the next adjacent car, so as to prevent sand andother material dropping from the cars onto the track.

18. In a car or conveyer, a body portion, a'. truck su porting the saine, said truck comprising a ower castingsupporting an axle,

aratus, an endless track, an endless series o cars or conveyers,

4connecting the motor shaft tol l ported by said casing,

upper casting bolted to the lower casting and swiveled to the car body.

19. `In a car or conveyer, a a truck supporting truck comprising a a ca st dome-shaped body portion, the body portion, said cast lower portion and and Asaid lower portion o the truck supporting a pair of axles,

a motor, and gearing connecting the motor and axles.

20. In a car or conveyer, a body portion, a truck supporting the saine, said truck cornprising a lower casting, a pair of axles journaled in said casting, a motor, and gearing connecting the' motor and axles also supand said truck comprising an upper dome-shaped casting hav'- ing feet which are bolted to the lower casting and having a circular bearing head upon which the car body is swiveled, and a king bolt connecting the car body-and the domeshaped casting.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' SAMSON D. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. F. Kwis, RAE Weiss.

upper portion which is swiveled to the body portion and has anl annular bearing head engaged by the latter, 

